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Successful Spay/Neuter Programs in Rural CommunitiesJane Weatherford, Brown County Humane Society, Nashville, IN

Contact info: Jane@bchumane.org 812-320-2829

SPOT Serving Pets Outreach Team Low cost spay/neuter assistance

Free pet supplies helps build trust with clientso Foodo Dog houses and enclosureso Straw

Training advice

Trap-Neuter-Return Assistance

Three year results Wow! It worked fewer pets & more $$

Decrease in shelter intake by 38% in 3 years

Over 3000 public owned pets sterilized Provide access to spay/neuter twice a month

Field runs into the community to deliver supplies

Program paid for itself!

Shelter Intake Data

SPOT

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

1400

1600

2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

Cats

Dogs

38 % decrease in Shelter intake 2009:2012.

Fiscal Impact

$132,218

$145,042

$59,184

(279 fewer cats

& 45 fewerdogs)

$72,008

2011

$87,052$110,982Benefit

$49,665$129,755New Revenue

$86,940

(340 fewer cats

& 203 fewerdogs)

$57,492(252 fewer

cats & 81fewer dogs)

ShelterSavings

$49,553$76,265SPOTProgram Cost

20122010

Prior to SPOT 4X more pets coming into the shelter than the national average

Great Out Alive rate 95%

Shelter was overcrowded

Not financially feasible to continue

SPOT getting started Supported by local philanthropist matching funds challenge

Solid business plan (reference Peter Marsh book: Replacing Myth with Math)

Establish relationship with pet owners taking the shelter to them(reference Sue Sternbergs Training Wheels program)

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Spay/Neuter promotion strategy

Time sensitive and limited

Aim at highest population of pets (Pitbulls, Hounds, Feral Cats)

Once someone calls negotiate do NOT lose them

Spay/Neuter advertising Flyers throughout the county where low income people frequent

Word of mouth

Local paper

Postcard to every resident

Website, Facebook, emails

Postcard to All Residents

Cost = $2350No. Mailed = 10,500Response = 206 surgeries

Spay/Neuter process Dedicated phone line, attended by part time staff

Schedules surgeries and field runs

Partner with spay/neuter clinic about 20 miles away

Clients bring pets to shelter and clinic transports pets to surgery

Work with local veterinarian

Keys to success Build trusting relationships with community

Advertise in areas appropriate to clientele

Dedicated project manager

Great volunteers

Data